Am I cut out for this?

 I'm still very much a foreigner, my language skills are still lacking and quite honestly daily I am baffled by the spanish enthusiasm. 

My children chose to sign up for the traditional "la jira. This is a carnival, of local schools and associations. Sounds ok? 

Well 7 weeks of rehearsal's, and uncountable messages on the whatsapp group feed. (All very time consuming, when you have to bounce back and forwards to translate), two hand made costumes later, now being able to recite beauty and the beast, in spanish and not having a bloody clue of what's next, anxiety kicks in. 

The night before, I realised that its a little chilly and therefore off we treck to sprinter to purchase flesh colour thermals for both children to wear under their costumes. No sleep as very excited children and a mummy that's worrying about have I followed all costume demands? 

A beauty and beast in hand and off we go to the meeting point. I'm in spain and try to remember that I must add at least twenty minutes on to the arranged time. Of course still being very english; we are on time and there is not another beauty or beast to be seen. 

Children panic, questioning my translation skills of location. I secretly start questioning myself. Phone dies (probably due to checking my phone a million times for instructions in the night) twenty past the arranged hour, the rest of the group arrives. 

Some compliments on my children's turn out (obviously they doubted the skills of the English women with crap spanish) lots of kissing, my 8 year old is slapped with red lipstick and mascara. Lots of chit chat. Now all good to go. 

Absolutely no idea of what I'm expected to do. Do I walk to the square, await them after the parade? Do I walk behind? I just continue to smile and hold random bits of costumes I'm handed. 

Off we go..... Im to walk at the side of the group. Lots of music, singing and I scuttle along at the side of the children. My children are having a marvellous time, waving, singing, dancing. I'm secretly wanting to run and sit alone with a nice espresso. 

They finally hit the main stage and I'm thrust a box of pizzas. I'm suddenly bombarded by hungry little people, with requests of what they want. I grab my 9 year old to help. All fed and watered, so off to watch them sing. 

Disillusioned. I'm to stand and assist children on to the stage, deal with a two year old, im randomly handed, straighten costumes and then run to the other side to ensure no little ones escape. 

I miss the entire performance! We then spend 45 minutes having group photos taken, before heading to the next parade. Realising I'm still with an extra child and no idea whom he belongs too. 

 My son is done by now, his legs hurt and I can't recall where I parked the car 5 hours ago. Final leg of parade completed. More photos. Car retrieved. I think it's over and I can go home! Nope! 

My children have normal clothes with them, as instructed. We get them changed at the pavilion and now it's fiesta time. Bouncy castles, paella, the standard spanish techno DJ. Unspeakable amounts of alcohol and olives. Lots of crazy dancing, including a spanish type of conga.

I feel grateful to have winged the entire thing! To kind of be excepted into our community, to know the lyrics to every bloody beauty and the beast track (in spanish and english) and to watch my children be immersed into the life I chose to give them. 

Midnight and a lift home later, the final words to me by a very nice lady were " SEE YOU SATURDAY EVENING FOR THE REAL THING"!!!!! I had no words. 

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